Hydrometer Question

[Jonnie Maple]

Should I invest in a Hydrometer?
This is my first year attempting to make syrup. I am going low budget to start. I have 6 taps and my co-conspirator has 18. We have a 55 gallon drum to store sap and plan on 2 methods of boiling. I built an evaporator out of a 55 gallon drum and a 6" restaurant pan. We also have a large cast iron kettle ( I think he is nuts for wanting to try that).
So far the only money I spent was for a starter kit (6 taps, plastic tubing, filter, candy thermometer and a book) and a couple of food grade 5 gallon buckets. I did a test run on my home-made evaporator just so I could see if it would work. I finished it off on the stove and because it was such a small batch, it was difficult to control it with a thermometer.
We will be doing batch runs and just wonder if this piece of equipment will be necessary or really that helpful.

Thanks in advance!

[Scribner's Mountain Maple]

I think you will not be disappointed. While watching for things like curtaining, and temperature will get you close, a Hydrometer does not lie and will give you peace of mind.

[G0J0]

jonnie - having done last year what you basically are doing this year, I did buy a hydrometer in this off season. now, I haven't used to so I can't say as to whether it will be more trouble than worth for small batchers, but I did the multiple thermometers thing last year and still underboiled it at the end so it was too watery. I wanted that peace of mind Scribner talks about. the only other option is to heat up already known good syrup to ~180 and play with it to see how it looks at temp - something I didn't bother to do but figure experience will tell me soon enough . . . . once we get boliling. I found the thermometers to bounce around at 218/219 so somewhat not reliable - use as a guide only.

[psparr]

The hydrometer is cheap, the cup is what gets ya.

If you finish off each small batch I'd say it wouldnt really work. But if you boil down and keep the concentrate in the fridge and just keep adding to that, at the end of the season youd have enough syrup to justify a hydrometer.

One trick I learned when doing small batches is when your done filtering, put the filter in a gallon zip-lock bag and throw it in the freezer. You can rinse it in the sap the next boil and not lose any of the syrup in the filter.

Good luck!

[Cake O' Maple]

My very first year, I used the thermometer to finish, and even boiling water at the time to establish the proper finish temp, my results were not consistent. The next year I bought a hydrometer, and I won't do without it again, no matter how little I'm making.

For a cup, I found a stainless steel travel mug the right depth (mine needed 9" to read hot) but it's fairly narrow (for a travel mug), has a handle to hang onto, it's insulated so I don't burn my fingers touching the cup, and it wasn't nearly as expensive as hydrometer cups. My neighbor making syrup found some metal canister and welded a handle on it, much narrower than my mug, so it took less syrup. But I can't weld, and I'm not going to use a pad that will get all wet (transferring heat) and sticky from dripping syrup.

It won't kill you to not use one this year, but I truly think it's worth it (and yes, I'm cheap!).

[3GoatHill]

One trick I learned when doing small batches is when your done filtering, put the filter in a gallon zip-lock bag and throw it in the freezer. You can rinse it in the sap the next boil and not lose any of the syrup in the filter.

Good luck!

That's a great idea, I'm going to try it. Thanks!

[Yellzee]

When I was only doing small batches it seemed impossible to get consistent syrup ... I think it's because you are watching the pot so long you start to convince yourself it's aproning.. I still find this method inconsistent even though I check every batch this way before I start testing with the hydrometer.

If you aren't going to sell any, it really doesn't matter though.

I'd make the purchase.... odds are pretty good your operation will only get bigger and it's not a big investment... however figure out where you are going to store the thing safely... they are very very fragile (I usually buy 2 at a time). DO NOT JUST DROP IT IN WHAT YOU THINK IS SYRUP... no doubt it will sink like a rock and smash on the bottom of the cup... I recommend pre-heating the hydrometer in boiling sap first, and filling and dumping the cup a couple times so everything is hot before testing... its important to try and keep the temperature hot... take the reading quickly... as the syrup cools the hydrometer will float higher and you can fool yourself.

[miner1]

I made a cheapo hydrometer cup with some 3/4 copper pipe. Put a cap on one end and cut a 2" section of 3/4 pipe lengthwise, pound it flat, and solder it to the cap so you have a stand, I used a 3/4 pipe hanger as a handle so I don't burn myself.

[rayi]

I made syrup (or almost syrup) for years. When I started to get bigger I got a hydrometer. Makes sure you have syrup which I don't think I had most years. For me it's a must have or don't boil.

[Rangdale]

I used a thermometer exclusively the first couple of years and learned (after getting a hydrometer last year) that all I was making was glorified maple water!! The hydrometer was certainly a small investment that I am glad I made. However, my father-in-law always made his a little thin as it still tastes great and he could stretch it a little further. They were extremely poor growing up and needed to stretch everything they could. They were only using it for personal consumption and not selling it tho.

[G0J0]

'But if you boil down and keep the concentrate in the fridge and just keep adding to that, at the end of the season youd have enough syrup to justify a hydrometer.

One trick I learned when doing small batches is when your done filtering, put the filter in a gallon zip-lock bag and throw it in the freezer. You can rinse it in the sap the next boil and not lose any of the syrup in the filter."

Thanks for the info. This is definitely another one of my 'improvements" (among others) for this year - gather for one big finale.

[Jonnie Maple]

OK, I bit the bullet and went out and bought the hydrometer and cup today. Going to do first "big" boil this weekend. We will see how it goes. Thanks for the input.

Another question?????? I read on here that guys are measuring the sap for sugar content, is this with the same hydrometer or would I have to get a different one? The one I got goes from 45-75 Brix (25-40 Baume)?

[ren46]

Jonnie Maple-
You would have to get a different hydrometer for measuring sap density (Brix scale 0 degrees -10 degrees and calibrated at 38 degrees F). The one you have is calibrated for syrup. There are also refractometers available for sap density measurements but more expensive.

Ren

[Jonnie Maple]

Thank You, I thought so but wasn't sure.